Chinese Visa Application Service Centre

Book a reservation online prior to arriving. It’s an easy process once you have your visa application filled out properly. If you’re applying for a tourist visa be sure to have your flight itinerary and hotel reservation printed out, along with required passport photos. They likely won’t need to take your passport photos for the application if you’ve already uploaded the digital photo online, but bring them just in case. As of the date of our application (Sept 2023) they have waived the $100 visa fee due to pandemic border closures for 3 years, you just have to pay the $57.75 processing fee. We were in an out within 20 minutes. Once application is received, pickup is 4 business days later at the cashier window. Make sure you bring the receipt (anyone is able to pick it up for you.) Staff is friendly and helpful though to some it can come across as curt. It’s a Chinese government office so expect curt responses. They’re fluent in Mandarin, heavily accented English, and some reps also speak Cantonese. If you go in fully prepared it’s a very pleasant and straightforward experience.

The stuff in table 7 who I dealt with on Sep 11 2023 was curt. While the next table staff was more patient to provide information. Staff should wear name tag so they get reviewed accurately. I am not sure this is Chinese government administrated or just an agency; but do not expect a smile, a greeting or a proper subject in any sentence from the staff.

Rude customer service. Never answer the emails or calls. I live all the way in Edmonton and wasted my time coming here all because they don’t answer emails or calls about concerns that don’t need appointments. The customer service though was extremely terrible.

Friendly service. Easy to deal with. They have printers and copiers if you forget to copy your documents. If you prepare your documents following the instructions on their website, it will only take like 10 minutes to go through the VISA application process in their office.

Extremely worse place, not friendly, very bad to treat people and ask people to go and back just because they were not happy.cancelled 10 years multiple visa without decent reason and recharge $157 for visa again.

The service attitude of the aunt at the door is 100 points
If the first trial is an aunt in her 50s, I suggest swallowing her anger
If the second trial is a guy in his 30s, it is recommended to listen to any opinions from him and don’t be stubborn, because your application can be rejected unconditionally
If it wasn't for the two people in the middle, congratulations, you can basically complete all the steps smoothly
In the end, the service attitude of the cashier is also 100 points
no more.don't dare to have another opinion
Rating says it all

I wish I could say they were as helpful as the reviews I have seen. Unfortunately, it was not. Due to COVD-19, the building itself was shut down and everytime I emailed them with my questions. They'd tell me to call them. Once I call them, they tell me to email them. It's gone to the point where I'm just wasting my time going back and forth and not getting the answers I needed. Truly disappointed.

Very fast and polite. Be forewarned: you need to have all your documents in order - and maybe extra supporting documentation! The website can be tough to navigate for newbies like me. I understood that my daughter being born here, and both of her parents, that her passport was sufficient. They decided because her name "sounded Chinese" she had to show her birth certificate with parents' birthplaces. Hoping I'm not spending 8 hours back on the highway to clear this up.

If you have All of your documents ready in order, be ready to spend at least 30min for the whole process. Here's a check list:
- printout of your filled online application
- print version of your visa photo if your online digital version failed
- your Chinese invitation letter (original may be needed)
- a photocopy of your inviter's Chinese ID (front and back)
- your current valid passport
- a photocopy of your picture page of your passport
- a photocopy of your previous Chinese Visa inside your passport
- a prepaid XPress Canada Post envelope if you're doing the mail back and not going for in-person pickup

Don't ask why you need these photo-copies of your passport and past visa, just provide them with it and be done. My guess is the consulate wants a paper version of it and is easier for applicants to do this rather themselves.

The location does have 2PCs and a printer/copier but you need to pay with exact coins. Shootout to the nice Canadian security officer there who didn't charge me bc I didnt have exact change. Cheers!

Also I'd suggest taking the C-train there since the building is only a block from the train stop and for the train fare price is much cheaper than the headache of looking for downtown parking and the anxiety of waiting if there's a ton of ppl in line.

Your application site is terrible. It won't let me save and all display regarding the problem only in Chinese!

Never pick up their phone! I tried for 4 days now, things are not clearly explained but very very picky. Rude & slow. Getting Chinese visa was horrible experience. Without all these chinese people giving themselves 5 stars, this place will be one star average.

Service seems to be pretty quick and courteous, but they don't tell you everything you need beforehand. I triple-checked that I had all the documents on the list they provided before driving 3 hours for my visa application, only to be told when I got there that I was missing a document that was not on the list. For those visiting friends in China, apparently you need a photocopy of their Chinese ID in addition to the letter of invitation that is listed in the required documents. They told me I can just quickly print it off from their computers, but that was not helpful since it was the middle of the night in China so I could not get ahold of my friend there to get the documents. Wasted over 6 hours of driving time, plus the cost of gas and $20 for parking, because they didn't list all the required documents on their website.

Plan to spend at least one hour if not more for the whole process.

1) We had an appointment for 0900 but so did everyone else there. It’s sort of a first come first serve sort of deal. We got there for 0850 and there was already 10-15 people in line. We were a party of two and we spent about an hour and a half there.

2) If you want everything to go smoothly make sure you have a copy of everything! Your passport, flight details for in and out of China, accommodation and the application filled out correctly. I made the mistake of not adding my middle name on the application and it was in my passport. They have a station where you can print/photocopy/ fix application.

3) The security guard seems to think he’s the authority and will lecture you about anything he can. Just avoid eye contact.

4) it cost 157 per person with tax.

5) I’m shocked in this day and age that his process is not very digital. Lots of paperwork.

I am happy with the service that I got today, friendly and smooth service. My wife was not present, but for finger print her present was imperative, I rescheduled her appointment for next Monday, June 10 over the phone, which was easy.
Thank you

Online it say open. Reached here after 3 hrs drive. Sign posted on door. Closed Celebrating holiday. WAKE UP. Please do your job seriously. Stop harassing people. IT IS CANADA

Be Cautious that multiple trips are most likely required!
They ask you for few things that aren’t listed on their website, and the check-in lady blames everything on you because you didn’t call them in the first place. My point is if you have to call them each time, why don’t you guys either complete the website and get the proper work done or shut down the website? The application lady was okay and helpful. The cashier lady made me feel like I own her money. She YELLED at me to get HER machine back. When I get home and call them to confirm if they have received my missed pp.and visa pictures, they phone even said EVERYTHING is on their website. Inconsistent services, incompetent crews and unacceptable work ethics.

I am amazed that the average rating is as low as it is. This is the best government office I have ever been to. I got a student visa a few years ago, and recently went again to get a travel visa.
First of all, the security guard is certainly the most helpful security guard I have ever met. He provides a huge amount of information before you ever reach the main counter, helps with filling out forms, and he even helped me photoshop my picture because the background wasn't white enough! I have never had to wait for more than a couple minutes. They even will take passport pictures for you (for a fee, of course) if you don't have any or if the ones you have aren't good enough.
Seriously, going to this place is such a nice experience, it is so much better than any government office I have ever been to. Everything is fast and easy. Visas arrive in three business days. I had to leave a review after seeing so many bad reviews for this place.
Just remember to bring a handfull of quarters to pay for printing.

Very slow. Security guard very annoying. They do not have all instructions posted very well, specifically that you must bring a pre-paid envelope for mailing back to you. If you dont have one you need to walk 2 blocks to buy one. Why not sell them for a profit on site?

Keep in mind the job of Chinese bureaucratics is to make trouble for you. They will even charge you for photocopying a piece of paper. Be thankful to that, at least you can pay to do it now. Still remember when everything was done at the consulate, they will ask you to go the the convenience store 3 blocks to do any photocopy they feel like. If your children were born in Canada, they will ask all kinds of papers to prove they were not owned by their government. They claimed 'It's up to us to decide whether your child is Chinese or not' while he is clearly not. Unbelievable, right? It's simple. My child has a Canadian passport and China doesn't allow duel citizenship. So either you think his Canadian citizenship is fake or don't even think about forcing him to be Chinese citizen. It's hard not to get angry with them especially if you are an ex-Chinese citizen. Their job is not to serve but to make trouble for you. Anyway, be prepared for multiple trips there to get anything done.

When I visited this office after completing visa application with all required documents, they simply told me visa application is not eligible for my country of citizenship. Thats it. And they hv specific requirements for different citizens & they dont bother to put that in their website. They deserve 0 star for their service. They did not bother to add some smile or suggestions with their flat reply which they threw in my face.

Very helpful staff. They stayed open an extra 30 mins to allow me to complete my visa form. They later called to ask me to make corrections on my application. Tip: make sure you type your forms, no pens!